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Now that he has passed one Sergei in the NHL record books, is there enough left in Sergei Gonchar's tank to even think about catching another?

Logic would say, of course not. But the Senators defenceman did not completely dismiss the suggestion.

"I've got to be in the league maybe five or 10 more years," Gonchar said with a laugh Thursday morning. "We'll see."

Gonchar became the highest scoring Russian blue-liner in league history with two assists in Tuesday's win over Carolina, moving a point ahead of Sergei Zubov with 772. To unseat Sergei Fedorov as the highest scoring Russian NHLer of all-time, the 39-year-old would need another 408 points.

So realistically, he'd need to play until he's 50 -- and nobody's even talked about wanting to do that since Alex Kovalev.

Gonchar's immediate future is of more concern, anyway. Enjoying his best of three seasons as a Senator with 26 points (two goals) in 39 games prior to Thursday's match against the Washington Capitals, Gonchar is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July.

At this point, it sounds like he fully intends to play into his 40s.

"Now my mind is focused on the playoffs," said Gonchar. "It's the only thing I'm thinking about. Down the road, after the season is over, I'm going to sit down and weigh over things and make a decision.

"Definitely," Gonchar added, when asked if he feels like he could continue playing. "(If) my body allowed me. I get up in the morning and I feel I can do it. I still enjoy it, that's the most important thing. After so many years playing the game, I'm still excited about every game we're playing. That's probably what keeps me going. The enjoyment of being out there. At the same time, my health has allowed me to do that."

Part of what's fuelling Gonchar is the desire to represent his homeland in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

"I would love to, especially when you think about it, it's the first ever Winter Olympics back in Russia. It's going to be something special. I would like to have a chance to play."

Only 28 Russians are currently playing in the NHL. Part of that has to do with the emergence of the KHL, both because players are wanting to make their living in the home country and NHL GMs are reluctant to draft them for fear they will.

"The league back home is getting better," said Gonchar. "(To play in the NHL) you have to go to another country, learn a new language, adjust to the lifestyle, new teammates and all that stuff. It makes it difficult for the guys.

"I think guys are feeling the league is really competitive and they're enjoying playing over there."

If he were 20 now, though, Gonchar said he would still jump at the chance to play in the NHL over the KHL. So naturally, breaking Zubov's NHL record will mean something to him, someday.

"I don't think I'm really realizing it (now)," he said. "It's been so many years and obviously it's a good feeling to be up there with a lot of good 'D' our country has put out. But at the same time, we're in the middle of the season now, fighting for the playoffs. It's not like you have time to think about it or have a celebration.

"I remember I was watching (Zubov) playing for the Red Army back home in Russia, even before he got here. I always liked him. He's a great player. He was one of those 'D' that had the ability to control the play. I like him a lot as a player. Then later on in my life I had a chance to meet him, and he's a great person.

"Then somebody told me after last game I'd become No. 1, so it's a special feeling."

Facing Washington Thursday, Gonchar was lined up against the team he broke into the league with in 1994. He and Caps coach Adam Oates used to drive to the rink together when they were teammates for six seasons in D.C, from 1996-2002. Would a Senators-Capitals first round playoff matchup give him another special feeling?

"I don't know," he said. "If you think about it, eight years have passed. It's a long time. There are very few guys I know on the team. I probably know more trainers than the players."